Artificial intelligence is reshaping professional practice across the built environment, and the surveying profession is no exception. With the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) having published its first Responsible Use of Artificial Intelligence in Surveying Practice professional standard (effective from 9 March 2026) the question for many firms is no longer whether to engage with AI, but how to do so in a way that is compliant, considered, and professionally defensible.
To help unpack what this landmark standard means in practice, Chris de Gruben FRICS, Director at Artefact and co-chair of the RICS working group that authored the standard, recently joined the Own the Build podcast to discuss its implications for quantity surveyors and the wider profession.
The standard represents a significant step forward in formalising expectations around AI use in surveying services. At its core, it places the professional judgement of the surveyor, encompassing knowledge, skills, experience, and professional scepticism, at the heart of any AI-assisted workflow. Where AI outputs have a material impact on service delivery, members and regulated firms are required to assess and document the reliability of those outputs in writing, ensuring that human accountability remains central.
The standard introduces requirements across several key areas. Firms must establish robust data governance policies to safeguard private and confidential information, and must conduct written due diligence before procuring third-party AI systems. A written risk register, reviewed at least quarterly, is mandatory for any firm using AI in a materially impactful way. Procurement and responsible use policies must also be in place, covering everything from staff training to quality assurance through randomised dip-sampling of outputs.
Transparency with clients is equally emphasised. Terms of engagement must set out clearly when and how AI will be used, the processes available to contest its use, and how clients may seek redress if they believe they have been negatively affected. Firms must also be able to provide written explanations of their AI use on request, a requirement that underscores the standard’s broader commitment to accountability and trust.
For those involved in developing AI systems, rather than simply using them, the standard extends further, requiring sustainability impact assessments, diverse stakeholder engagement, and documented compliance with applicable data laws.
In the podcast, Chris reflects on the development of the standard and offers practical insight into how firms of all sizes can begin putting these requirements into effect, addressing both the opportunities that responsible AI adoption presents and the reputational and professional risks of getting it wrong.
About the author
Chris de Gruben FRICS is a Director at Artefact and a Fellow of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors. He served as co-chair of the RICS working group responsible for developing the Responsible Use of Artificial Intelligence in Surveying Practice professional standard, bringing together expertise from across the profession to shape what is the first RICS standard of its kind. Chris has been actively engaged with RICS as an APC assessor, Vice Chair of the PGP on valuation, co-author of the upcoming AI in Property Valuation Practical Guidance, and co-trainer of the very popular Global Harnessing of Data and AI for Surveyors webcourse.
